LOUISA REBGETZ: You've criticised the Territory Government's budget deficit, you don't believe this budget has been tough enough. The Government says infrastructure spending is a big part of this budget to create jobs for Territorians - isn't that important?

TERRY MILLS, OPPOSITION LEADER: Absolutely. There must be jobs, there must be employment but in the context of difficult economic times is not the time just to con people with words. If the Labor Government is saying that yes we must spend money on infrastructure we agree with them, but we must make sure the money is actually spent on infrastructure, and that spend is a part of a strategic long term plan that is actually productive, and the fact is that there still has to be some cut-backs - there has to be some cost savings and that comes through making sure that we have a public service that is strengthened and focused. And I made a commitment to the hard working public servants that we're not talking about making savings by making cuts in the public service but rather to focus the public service on quality service delivery and making sure that business is well supported by the work of the public sector. But the cuts would come only for those very senior positions that are highly paid, that are directed towards minding the business of government, that is minders and spin-doctors and people who are promoting the bureaucracy and the ministry and the Government - that's where we need to make some savings. So I've got no argument with Government with regards to the need to spend on infrastructure, we agree, but it has to be a responsible spend and there has to be some savings.

LOUISA REBGETZ: Historically it's proven dangerous for leaders to say they're going to cut jobs in the public service. Are you concerned this policy could lose you votes in the coming election?

TERRY MILLS, OPPOSITION LEADER: What I am concerned about is the sustainable position of the Territory's books. For anyone who is honest and has a concern for the proper administration of the Territory's great opportunity, to allow us to realise that opportunity you have to have an honest look at the books. I'm not talking about putting any handbrakes on, in fact I'm focusing effectively and efficiently the resources that we actually have to allow the opportunities that the Territory has to be in fact realised. If we don't honestly look at the financial position of the Northern Territory we could be in a very serious problem - the fact is the books as we've seen them, and there are still many questions unanswered and the Chief Minister's got two weeks to answer these remaining questions, it's in fact unsustainable. You can't have just basic interest repayments, not even being able to be afforded in three or four years time - that's one million dollars every single day being spent on interest repayments alone - not even reducing the debt so there has to be some response to that.

LOUISA REBGETZ: So when would you return the budget to surplus if you win the election in August?

TERRY MILLS, OPPOSITION LEADER: Well that's a very good question and that's why the 27 questions have been placed before the Chief Minister. That's why we've gone through the books very carefully to get a clear and honest picture. It is my commitment that we would set a date but we're not in a position to set that date until we know exactly where we're at because I don't want to raise people's expectations and not be able to deliver on them but the commitment that I have made is that in that first term of government, if elected we would then set that date and we'd put a plan in place to get the books under control.

LOUISA REBGETZ: Does that promise have any meaning though when you don't have to put a date on it for an election - you could go into that first term claiming you found a big black hole?

TERRY MILLS, OPPOSITION LEADER: That's what I'm trying to do now - I want to be honest with Territorians. I don't want to falsely raise expectations. I think people have had enough of cynical politics. The 27 questions are honest questions. They should be answered, and if they're not answered by Paul Henderson and Delia Lawrie I will only fear the worst.

LOUISA REBGETZ: You've said you'll only be targeting public servants earning 110,000 dollars a year or more, the Government says that puts even school principals in the firing line?

TERRY MILLS, OPPOSITION LEADER: That's absolute nonsense. I have made it absolutely clear no public servant who is delivering services in health, law and order or education has anything to fear from the Country Liberals. Labor Party know darn well what I'm talking about - it's those that are involved in selling the business of the minister and of the government - the spin doctors, the consultants. There is a heck of a lot of waste there.

LOUISA REBGETZ: In just over three months we're having an election. This week the Country Liberals disendorsed its candidate for Karama, Wayne Connop. The status of sitting member Willem Westra Van Holthe is under a cloud, given this how do you hope to convince the public that you can provide stable Government?

TERRY MILLS, OPPOSITION LEADER: I don't think we've got a problem because when an issue has arisen as they do from time to time, in the case of the candidate for Karama it was dealt with swiftly and efficiently. It's a system that works - we've got processes in place and I've every confidence that this party, this grassroots party, this Territory's own party sorts its business out.